Abstract LB-45: Real people- real stories: survivors teaching students

Abstract

Abstract The Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Oregon and SW Washington is a proud partner member of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance (OCNA). We actively bring the OCNA's program Survivors Teaching Students: Saving Women's Lives to the local level. Since 2002, the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance has been working to save the lives of women by helping healthcare practitioners learn to diagnose ovarian cancer earlier. Through OCNA's innovative educational program future healthcare professionals-physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and physician assistants increase their understanding of ovarian cancer symptoms and risk factors so that they will be able to diagnose the disease when it is in its earlier, most treatable stages. Survivors Teaching Students brings ovarian cancer survivors into health professionals’ classrooms to share their stories and key information about the disease. At the local level, we also speak to pharmacy and naturopath students. Based on students’ evaluations we are accomplishing our goal of increasing awareness of this deadly cancer. Our local organization's mission is to promote awareness of ovarian cancer and to provide education to women and the health care community; to offer support to all ovarian cancer survivors by providing opportunities for networking, education and community outreach; and to advocate for public policy and funding for ovarian cancer research. In addition to the Survivors Teaching Students program, we are active in community health fairs/events, and have a presence in local Gynecological Cancer Support Groups. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-45. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-45